Angry PCB slams Afridi for criticism of teammates

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly angry at veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi's public criticism of his teammates after Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

Afridi said that he believed that changing the mindset of the players instead of the captaincy is the more important issue as Pakistani players have a negative attitude, which brought about their downfall in Bangladesh.

According to The Nation, Afridi's comments at the Karachi airport has left the PCB angry, with acting chairman Najam Sethi saying that he is not sure whether Afridi was granted permission to talk to media, adding that if a cricketer had a negative comment, he (Sethi) should have been the one to be consulted, not the media.

Sethi further said that he would not have spoken to the media had he been in Afridi's place, although he conceded that Afridi might have been forced to make the comments given the way the reporters would have 'huddled' him.

Although Afridi may have spoilt his chance to become Pakistan's captain in limited overs cricket, former captain Mohammad Yousuf backed him, saying that Afridi should be appointed captain till the 2015 World Cup as Pakistan wants him to become the captain now.